Sophisticated luxury describes Starpower’s sleek showroom in North Dallas where customers can dream of designing their own custom high-end home entertainment and automation systems. Customers are treated to a VIP experience where a company rep is always available to answer questions and turn their vision into reality. Architect Phil White, formerly of Victoria’s Secret and Limited stores, designed the stylish showroom to appeal equally to the female and male demographic who want a premium, custom installation of audio, video, security and home automation and entertainment tied together in a seamless package.
Daniel Pidgeon, 46, is head of this family-owned business. As the...

The “Internet of Things” has taken off with all of the subtlety of a rocket launching. With everything from refrigerators to smoke detectors to sprinkler systems becoming network/Internet accessible, sales of smart home devices will reach 20.7 million units this year and increase to 35.9 million units by 2017, according to a CEA and Parks Associates forecast. The same study found that 13 percent of U.S. broadband households own at least one smart home device.
But while IoT promises many benefits to endusers it also presents serious security and data privacy challenges. For starters, IoT devices will not incorporate anti-virus and antimalware protection, nor will they...

Most engineers shudder at the idea of getting involved in a new standards development project. Getting a group of competitors in the same room to discuss the solutions to industry problems probably means a lengthy time commitment, as these competitors are going to defend their company’s interest. Or does it? In today’s world of fast-paced innovation, can standards be developed quickly to support an industry need while maintaining a consensus-based atmosphere? The answer is yes.
In just over two months, CEA’s DTV Interface Subcommittee launched, balloted and published CEA-861.3, Static HDR Metadata...

Media reports indicate that women in technology are dealing with the outdated disconnect of an industry mindset that relegates women to second-class status, rather than maximizing their contributions.
I spent the first seven years of my career at what is now the Consumer Electronics Association – working the entire time with Gary Shapiro, who has been leading the organization since 1991. While no one who knows Gary would say that he’s a teddy bear of a boss, I never knew him to lead with any gender bias.
While that was nearly three decades ago, I thought Gary might have some insight into practical actions the industry can take to change this dynamic. I dropped him an email...

Sitting U.S. Presidents and foreign monarchs usually do not carry cash or credit cards. When heads of state try to use plastic for payment, as President Obama did last October at a restaurant in New York, it doesn’t always work out. His credit card was rejected. He later said, “I guess I don’t use it enough and they thought there was some fraud going on.” Even if you don’t have Secret Service agents on hand to provide a loan, you can still leave your wallet at home by using a mobile phone equipped with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Wallet (for Android phones).
NFC Technology
Just place your phone within a few inches of the Near Field Communication (NFC)...

Many of us remember searching for our first home with a realtor. Maybe the granite countertops or exterior lighting was the feature that convinced us this was our dream home. But today things have changed. Technology is connecting homes and it is starting to make a difference in how they are bought and sold.
The consumer electronics (CE) industry is delivering on the promise of the smart home with easier-to-use products, systems and services to help consumers manage their homes often from their smartphones. Connected to the Internet through a home network for remote access, monitoring and control, these devices bring homeowners convenience, security, accessibility, entertainment...

The Powerful Answers Award is a multi-million dollar challenge for entrepreneurs, companies and innovators worldwide to provide innovative solutions in transportation, emergency response and the Internet of Things.
Run by Verizon, the Powerful Answers Awards is committed to finding innovative solutions that go beyond Verizon’s traditional portfolio of products and that support social responsibility. This program is a beneficial platform for bright and innovative minds to share solutions for some of the world’s most pressing issues. At the same time, it is an opportunity to work together with Verizon to help further those ideas.
Judges include executives from innovative...

The inaugural CES Asia took place in Shanghai on May 25-27. The event, produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® and co-produced by INTEX, featured more than 200 exhibitors from 16 countries. More than 20,000 attendees - including more than 1,200 members of the media - graced the show floor spanning 20,000 gross square meters. Highlights of the show included conference sessions and keynotes from companies including Audi, Intel, Suning Commerce Group, Twitter, Volkswagen and more.
Visit CESAsia.cn to find more information about the smashing success that was the inaugural CES Asia, including product announcements, the Best of CES Asia Awards and watch videos of the...

Twitter Opens Hong Kong Office
Social networking site Twitter opened an office in Hong Kong in March headed by Twitter executive Peter Greenberger. The company aims to off er Chinese companies a path to marketing their products and services to customers overseas. The decision to focus—at least initially—on international marketing prospects rather than compete with homegrown social networking services such as Sina Weibo and Renren resembles that of Facebook, which also functions as an international marketing tool. The Hong Kong off ice was the second branch opened in Asia by Twitter, following an off ice in Jakarta opened one week before.
PlayStation 4 Arrives in China...